RICKETTSIA AKARI

Course overview

RICKETTSIA AKARI, AN INTRACELLULAR, GRAM-NEGATIVE PATHOGEN, IS THE ETIOLOGIC AGENT OF RICKETTSIALPOX, WHICH IS TRANSMITTED BY THE HOUSE MOUSE MITE. RICKETTSIALPOX PRESENTS WITH A TRIAD OF A VESICULAR RASH, FEVER, AND ESCHAR. THIS IS A SELF-LIMITED DISEASE, BUT THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS CAN SHORTEN THE DURATION OF SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT OF RICKETTSIALPOX AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.